Key moments

Carlos Betancur(ALM) emerged as the clear favourite to win the 72nd edition of Paris-Nice after his second back-to-back stage victory in Fayence, handing him the race leader's yellow jersey at the expense of Geraint Thomas (SKY) on Friday.

"I knew it was going to be long day, with a lot of kilometres, but that the finale suited me. My AG2R team were very cohesive and this is the result of their great work. It would have been difficult to do better than we did today. I think Geraint Thomas remains one of my most dangerous rivals as well as Nibali but AG2R are among the best teams to help me in the mountains and to defend the yellow jersey. (Former Italian pro) Michele Bartoli is like a father for me, I live one...

Fayence remains famous in the history of Paris-Nice for Alberto Contador's spectacular faltering in the 2009 edition but Friday's sixth stage, the longest this year at 221.5 km, has all it takes to make history. The general classification could hardly be tighter with 20 riders inside 20 seconds and the terrain is probably the most favourable this year for attacks and chances to take time. Geraint Thomas was fearing for his yellow jersey in yesterday's stage, thinking that sprinters like John...

... and three men are now in the lead: Frank Schleck (TFR), Stephan Denifl (IAM) and Alexis Vuillermoz (ALM).

15:17

Break over

km 200 - Vuillemoz (ALM) and Serpa (LAM) were first caught by Matthias Frank (IAM) then by the rest of the peloton. Andy Schleck (TFR) and Sylvain Chavanel (IAM) are among the riders currently dropped.

15:12

Two in the lead

Sylvain Chavanel (IAM) has been caught and dropped by Alexis Vuillermoz (AG2R) and Jose Serpa (LAM).

15:10

Degenkolb among those dropped

Km 195 - Green jersey holder John Degenkolb (GIA), second overall, is among the riders dropped in the ascent of Col de Bourigaille.

15:08

Chavanel leads the way

Chavanel is now alone in the lead ahead of De Marchi after Voeckler and Ligthart ware dropped.

15:06

Voeckler leads

Thomas Voeckler (EUC) leads his three breakaway companions into Col de Bourigaille, with a 12 seconds lead over the chasing peloton.

15:03

Result of the sprint in Fayence

Km 193 - Fayence

1. Alessandro de Marchi (CAN)

2. Thomas Voeckler (EUC)

3. Pim Ligthart (LTB)

Peloton 30 seconds behind.

14:59

Four in the lead

Km 189 - As the leading group scattered, Sylvain Chavanel (IAM), Thomas Vocekler (EUC), Alessandro de Marchi (CAN) and Pim Ligthart (OPQ) are now the only four riders left in the lead.

14:56

Bernaudeau dropped from break

Giovanni Bernaudeau (EUC) was dropped from the leading group. Only 11 riders in the lead now, with a 28 seconds lead over the peloton.

14:53

Gap down to 38 seconds

Km 184 - Led by Team Sky's David Lopez and Edvald Boasson-Hagen, the peloton is now only 35 seconds behind the 12 escapees.

Km 160 - Six Astana riders are leading the peloton, trailing the ten escapees by 1:30.

14:14

The break in Cote des Tuilieres

Km 159 - The ten escapees tackle the second category Cote des Tuilieres with a 1:45 lead over the peloton.

14:12

The race in Draguignan

The race is in Draguignan (km 158), home to eight Paris-Nice stage finishes and the traditional finish of the Tour du Haut-Var. The three last Paris-Nice stages held in town were won by Belgians, Freddy Maertens, Patrick Sercu and Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke.

Interviewed by www.letour.fr, FDJ.fr team director Thierry Bricaud talked about the tactics for French champion Arthur Vichot, currently 11th overall, at the end of the stage. "Today, obviously, it's everything for Arthur. He had good legs yesterday and I hope it will be the same again today. I'm expecting a serious trimming in Col de Bourigaille and that is when we'll know who's doing well. Then the big battle will take place in the Fayence climb and if he's in good shape, he...

13:36

Average speed 43.6 kph

The average speed in the third hour of the stage was 40.4 kph. The overall average speed was 43.6 kph.

13:29

Guiberteau (GIA) - Fayence is too hard for John

Asked whether John Degenkolb had a chance to stay with the best in the finale, Giant Shimano team director Christian Guiberteau was not optimistic: "No, it's too hard. And I'm afraid he will already be dropped in Bourigaille," he told www.letour.fr

Stage 5 winner Carlos Betancur (ALM) knows the profile of this stage well. In the last Tour du Haut Var, which he won, he finished second in a similar stage to Draguignan behind Amael Moinard (BMC). The stage also comprised the Col de Bourigaille and the Cote des Tuilieres, the main two ascents in today's stage.

12:10

Gasporotto chases alone

Enrico Gasparotto (AST) is chasing on his own behind the ten escapees.

In local paper Var Matin, former pro Vincent Barteau tells how he works as an adviser on a film shot around Paris-Nice about the last days of Tour de France winner and former Paris-Nice promoter Laurent Fignon, called "The last breakaway": "He died in front of me, surrounded by his family."Barteau looks after Samuel Le Bihan, the actor portraying Fignon: "I had to give Samuel indications on Laurent's style. We rode a lot with the main two actors. It's really emotional to look back like...

11:03

McPartland - "Simon's main goal is Milan-San Remo"

Orica Greenedge team director David McPartland told www.letour.fr that Simon Gerrans, 72nd overall, 8:40 behind Geraint Thomas (SKY) did not have any more ambitions on this Paris-Nice and wanted to focus on his other goals ahead. "Simon was not 100 pc because of his illness before Paris-Nice. His main goal is Milan-San Remo so he didn't want to exaggerate and decided to avoid any trouble. He made his decision last night that it was better to withdraw."

10:52

Terpstra on his own

Km 10 - Niki Tersptra (OPQ) attacked on his own but was reeled in four kilometres later.

10:47

Romain Bardet - "My role is now to protect Carlos"

France's Romain Bardet (ALM) was hampered by several mishaps in yesterday's stage (crash, punctures) and is now working for stage 5 winner Carlos Betancur, hoping to help him win Paris-Nice. "It was avery difficult day for me yesterday, but now I'm clearly motivated in my role as a team-mate for Carlos. We have a chance to win Paris-Nice. My role is now to protect Carlos in the finale and I will be here to anticipate moves. Our interest would be for a pack bunch to reach the last climb...

10:37

Nine riders move

Km 2 - Nine riders attempt to part company with the peloton.

10:34

Start given

The start of the 221.5-km 6th stage of Paris-Nice was given at 10:34 to 159 riders.

10:21

Quotes at the start

Geraint Thomas (SKY) made it clear he "would be surprised to be in yellow tonight" given the toughness of the day's stage. Green jersey holder John Degenkolb (GIA) was in the same frame of mind, admitting that "suffering starts today" for the sprinters like him, even when they are decent climbers. By contrast, other riders more familiar with that type of hilly terrain were more ambitious. French champion Arthur Vichot, who knows the roads well after winning the Tour du Haut Var in 2013, said...

10:19

Jersey holders

Geraint Thomas (SKY) retained his yellow jersey as the top three positions in the GC did not budge in Rive de Gier on stage 5. The Welshman still leads stage 3 winner John Degenkolb (GIA) by three seconds and stage 4 winner Tom-Jelte Slagter (GRS) by four. But they are now all under threat from yesterday's stage winner Carlos Betancur of Colombia (ALM) who impressed in the finale with Luxembourg champion Bob Jungels (TFR) and Denmark's Jakob Fuglsang (AST), who is now 6th, 13 seconds behind...

10:16

159 at the start

159 riders are at the start. Simon Gerrans (OGE) did not start.

10:15

Climbs of the day

Km 36.5 - Cote de Bonnieux (3rd cat)

Km 164.5 - Cote des Tuilieres (2nd cat)

Km 180 - Cote du Mont-Meaulx (3rd cat)

Km 202.5 - Col de Bourigaille (1st cat)

Km 221.5 - Finish in Fayence (2nd cat)

10:13

Sprints of the day

Km 45.5 - Lourmarin

Km 193 - Fayence

10:07

Welcome on the 6th stage

Welcome on the 221.5-km 6th stage of Paris-Nice between St Saturnin-les-Avignon and Fayence, the longest in this edition. Stay tuned to www.letour.fr